Mail-bag lock.



1. A. KIDWELL.

' MAIL BAG LOCK.

. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1916.

1,,Q9,290. Patented June 12, 1917;

JOHN A. KIDWELL JOHN A. KIDWELL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MAIL-BAG LOCK.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1917.

Application filed June 2, 1916. Serial No. 101,316.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. KIDWELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Columbus, in the county of F ranklin and State of Ohio, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Bag Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved mail bag lock, and is designed for use particularly with the rope clamp used on parcel post and other mail carriers or bags.

It is the present practice with mail bags and other receptacles or carriers to utilize a standard rope clamp in connection with the f draw ropes or ropes with which the mouths of the bags are drawn closed to clamp and secure the ropes together, but this clamping device fails to lock the bag, and as a matter of fact is not intended to lock the bag to prevent access to its interior. In many instances it is desirable that the contents of the bag shall be securely locked to prevent pilfering, and the object of my invention is the prov1sion of a comparatively inexpensive and simple, but durable and citicient locking device by which the rope clamp, after being properly positioned on the rope to close the mail bag, is itself securely locked in clamped position on the rope so that the bag may not be surreptitiously opened, and is not accessiblewithout first removing the clamp lock and rope clamp.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention applied to the standard rope clamp for mail bags, constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clamp lock, showing the hasp in open position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, showing the free end of the hasp broken away for convenience of illustration.

Fig, 3 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the lock with the rope clamp incased therein, but the padlock'is omitted.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4:, but with the hasp omitted for purposes of illustration in order that the clamp and the arrangement of rope ends may be disclosed.

Therope clamp is of well known type and includes the. metallic body part 1 having suitable openings or channels for the rope ends 2 and 3 which may be pulled through the body of the clamp, or the clamp he slid along on the ropes in well known manner for closing the mouth of the bag. The body of the clamp is formed with side wings or flanges l and 5 along which the return ends of the ropes may lie, and the usual recess is indicated at 6 to place the destination card.

The clamp tongue 7 is pivoted at 8 to the body of the clamp and is utilized to swing on its pivot and clamp the rope in well known manner between it and the body of the clamp.

My invention embodies a metallic housing 9 which may be of sheet metal stamped to shape, or of cast metal, or wrought metal as desirable or as found most advantageous. When made of stamped metal as shownin the drawings, one end of the housing is cut away transversely and the detached ends brought together to form an eyelet 10 which is formed with a brace portion 11 and located on the central longitudinal axis of the housing. The eyelet is of flat formation in order to accommodate the slottedhasp 12 which is pivoted at 13 in the side walls of the housing and formed with a slot 14 to pass over the eyelet. This hasp is a flat metallic plate of a width to fit neatly within the housing and is formed with a bent portion which conforms to the angular edges 15, 15, of the side walls of the housing, thus forming an inclosure adapted to the outline of the rope clamp as shown in Fig. 4. The

bottom plate 16 of the housing is provided with a large slot or opening 17 throu h which the destination or name plate on t e rope clamp is visible. In use, the ropes of the bag B are drawn to close the mouth of the bag, the rope clamp is secured to the ropes as shown, and then the housing, with the hasp in open position, is placed over the rope and clamp and then the pivoted hasp is turned to closed position over the rope clamp, with its slotted end passed over the fiat eyelet. A padlock (not shown) may now be clasped on the eyelet, thus locking the hasp on the eyelet against withdrawal, and the rope and rope clamp are thus locked in position to hold the mouth of the bag B in closed position. To unlock the parts, the padlock is first unlocked and withdrawn Withdrawn from the rope. clamp.

What I claim is 7 The combination With a separable h0ns+ ing adapted to inclose a mail bag fastener and "having an open end for passage of a fastening cord, said housing having a slot-. ted bottomplate and said plate adjacent the op d ha i g bent, p t ns farm ng a braceportion and a' flat eyelet portion, the

qopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh, by addressing; the Coninfiss ioner of Patentslx latter located centrally at the. open. end of the housing and provided with a braced portion integral with the bottom plate of a hasp adapted to close over and coact With the fastener to prevent disengagement of the cord, said hasp comprising a plate pivoted at the closed end of the housing, and formed with a slotted free end to fit over the eyelet.

In testimony whereof I a flix my signature.

- JOHN A. KIDWVELL.

Washington, D. C. 

